Sony Corporation has signed a multiple-year global partnership agreement with Fnatic Ltd (“Fnatic”), which operates a professional esports team headquartered in London, UK, including product co-creation of Sony’s gaming gear brand, INZONE™.

Sony’s product development teams will exchange opinions on product concepts, performance, and technology with professional players from Fnatic. Initially, professional players from Fnatic will conduct rigorous product testing for INZONE products under development, and Sony will enhance them, based on their professional opinions. Sony will create revolutionary gaming gear that will lead players to victory in highly competitive games by collaborating with Sony’s expertise in high image quality and sound quality that have been cultivated over many years with the unrivalled experiences and performance of Fnatic’s professional players.

In addition, Sony will co-produce online content with Fnatic for the gaming community, providing unique experiences for many players including Fnatic fans.

Since its founding in 2004, Fnatic has operated multiple professional esports teams in London, Berlin and Tokyo, winning many international championships.
Sony shares with Fnatic the common goal to inspire and empower all players to continue to achieve their full potential.

“We’re absolutely thrilled to welcome INZONE into the Fnatic family as a long-term partner of our organisation,” said Sam Mathews, CEO of Fnatic. “During our initial discussions it became clear how strong the alignment is between our brands; from Sony’s leading innovation in technology and our own 18+ year legacy as a world leader in esports and gaming performance. Together we look forward to exciting the audience, pushing the boundaries in both product development through our world-class roster of players and amplification of the INZONE brand globally via our unrivalled fanbase of over 30+ million worldwide.”

“We are excited to partner with Fnatic, the world leader in the e-sports scene, to pioneer new gaming experiences for esports players and all gaming lovers,” said Hiroshi Nakamura, Head of Personal Entertainment Business Unit, Sony Corporation. “By the combination of Sony’s cutting-edge visual and audio technologies and Fnatic’s unparalleled expertise, we are engineering the multiple initiatives with Fnatic such as the co-creation of gaming gears and content activations, that will add a completely new dimension to gaming life. Sony Group’s corporate direction is “getting closer to people”, and in this context, getting closer to the gaming community. We are sincerely wishing to energize and support the gaming community through this partnership, as a member of the Fnatic family.”

Gaming gear “INZONE”
“INZONE” is a gaming gear brand for PC gamers that sharpens the senses and enhances gaming abilities. Sony provides gaming monitors and gaming headsets that incorporate the latest technology in addition to Sony’s expertise in high image quality and sound quality that have been cultivated over many years.

The only virtual racing challenge of its kind in the United States returns this year with an even bigger and more thrilling venue for the finals –the legendary WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca during the world’s biggest Porsche festival, Rennsport Reunion. Thousands of drivers from all over the country are expected to compete via Gran Turismo™ 7 to be one of only 16 people to qualify for the Grand Final. The Grand Final will take place in the Bose Esports Arena at Rennsport Reunion 7 from September 28 to October 1, 2023.

The Porsche Esports Challenge USA is now in its second year, after crowning the inaugural champion at Sports Car Together Fest at Indianapolis in 2022. The 16 finalists will compete to win their share of the $30,000 prize pool, with other driving experiences and prizes up for grabs. Most notably, the top three winners will each receive a TAG Heuer Connected Calibre E4 Porsche Edition Watch.

The cash payouts are as follows:

• 1st Place – $15,000
• 2nd Place – $10,000
• 3rd Place – $5,000

Drivers from the U.S. have two paths to qualify for the Grand Final at Rennsport Reunion 7 (RR7).

The Online Qualifiers:

The online qualifying competitions will be held in-game July 10th – 30th in Gran Turismo™ 7 with the top four drivers from each round being invited to the finals at RR7. As 2023 represents Porsche’s 75th anniversary, the three online time trials will highlight significant vehicles throughout Porsche’s 75 year history. Each car and track combination require a unique set of driving skills that will push both driver and car to their limits.

• Monday, July 10-16th, Round 1: Porsche 917K ’70 @ Circuit de la Sarthe (24h of Le Mans)
• Monday, July 17-23rd, Round 2: Porsche 959 ’87 @ Sardegna Windmills
• Monday July 24-30th, Round 3: Porsche 911 RSR (991) 2017 @ Daytona International Speedway (ROffline qualifiers will take place at the following Porsche Centers:
  • Porsche Experience Center Los Angeles (Carson, CA) – June 11
  • Porsche Redwood City (San Francisco, CA) – June 16-17
  • Porsche Bethesda (Rockville Pike, North Bathesda, Maryland) – June 23-24oad Course)

The Offline Qualifiers:

The Porsche Experience Center Los Angeles, the Porsche Experience Center Atlanta and three U.S. Porsche Centers will host offline qualifying competitions. Competing drivers will be tasked with submitting their fastest lap in Gran Turismo™ 7 on WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca in the Porsche 911 GT3 RS (991) ’16. The top four fastest drivers across all offline qualifiers will be invited to the Grand Finals.

Offline qualifiers will take place at the following Porsche Centers:

• Porsche Experience Center Los Angeles (Carson, CA) – June 11
• Porsche Redwood City (San Francisco, CA) – June 16-17
• Porsche Bethesda (Rockville Pike, North Bathesda, Maryland) – June 23-24
• Porsche Paul Miller (Parsippany-Troy Hills, NJ) – July 14-15
• Champion Porsche (Pompano Beach, FL) – July 21-22
• Porsche Experience Center Atlanta (Atlanta, GA) – July 28-29

To attend the offline qualifier at the Porsche Experience Center Atlanta (PECATL), individuals must first send an email that includes their first and last name to the organizers at [email protected] . For all other locations, perspective competitors need to visit the appropriate dealership during regular business hours on the day of the competition.

With Porsche Rennsport Reunion 7 just around the corner, there is plenty of Gran Turismo™ action to go before crowning our Porsche Esports Challenge USA 2023 champion. Keep an eye on Porsche’s Instagram, Twitter and Twitch pages for the most up-to-date information and to follow all the exciting racing action ahead.

Competitors Head to Istanbul to Hoist the eCL Trophy Ahead of 2023 UEFA Champions League final and Earn Their Spot at the EA SPORTS FIFA 23 Global Series Playoffs

The eChampions League (eCL) approaches its pinnacle with the eCL Finals on June 7 in Istanbul, Turkey. In the leadup to the 2023 UEFA Champions League final, Europe’s best EA SPORTS™ FIFA 23 competitors will look to take home their share of the $280,000 USD prize pool, the coveted eCL trophy, and European glory.

“EA SPORTS FIFA esports continues to offer players and fans unique and exciting ways to celebrate their love of football,” said Sam Turkbas, Sr. Director, Esports & Commissioner, Football Esports, Electronic Arts. “We look forward to closing out another successful season of the eChampions League, in Istanbul with a live audience, featuring epic Finals matchups on the virtual pitch”.

After two previous events of high-stakes competition this season, the pool of over 1,000 hopefuls has been narrowed down to eight, who will face off live on stage at Turkey’s ESA Espor Arena. Gameplay kicks off as four competitors on the brink of elimination clash through an additional qualifying round in the lower bracket, while the four top-seeded competitors vye for a direct spot in the semi-finals through the upper bracket. The eventual eCL champion will get the unique opportunity to hoist the trophy live from the Atatürk Olympic Stadium in the evening of the UEFA Champions League final on June 10. Both the winner and runner-up will also punch their ticket to the EA SPORTS FIFA 23 Global Series Playoffs, while the third and fourth seeds have a chance to qualify through the Play-Ins.

In addition to cheering on their favorite competitors, fans in attendance will have an opportunity to engage with a number of onsite activities. Attendees will be able to take photos with the UEFA Champions League trophy ahead of the eCL Finals and see football legends and UEFA Champions League winners Kaká and Ruud Gullit, who will also be joining the event and broadcast.